Siena Bjornerud has only been acting for a short while, but her performance in the sports drama The Hill has turned a few heads. Born on January 1, 1999, in Seattle, Washington (via TheMovieDB), Siena Bjornerud has been acting professionally since around 2019, with her feature debut being Underdog as Julia, and the same year, she released her first single, “Kitkats & Raspberries”, with her first album coming out in 2022, End of an Era. A multi-talented artist, Bjornerud has even directed five of her own music videos.
Bjornerud is a name of Norwegian ancestry and Siena has talked about her connection with the country, going so far as to make her stage name, “Siena Bjørn”, complete with the slashed o from Danish, Norwegian, Faroese, and Sámi languages. According to Bjornerud, her last name means “Red Bear”, and she’s always appreciated the ambition and capability her heritage has afforded her (via Motivation). Her slow-growing success has shot off on a steep trajectory thanks to a 2023 performance in the cast of Dennis Quaid’s The Hill.
Siena Bjornerud Plays Gracie Shanz In The Hill
Gracie Is A Fictional Character Created For The True Story
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The Hill is based on the true story of Rickey Hill, played by Colin Ford in the film, a baseball player with a degenerative spinal disease that keeps him in leg braces. Though he can’t run, he’s an exceptional batter, even a prodigy according to some. His father, Pastor James Hill (Quaid), is nervous about his son’s health and dissuades him from playing. Siena Bjornerud appears in the main cast as Gracie Shanz, Rickey’s childhood sweetheart who believes in his dreams of becoming a ball player more than anyone.
Siena Bjornerud’s Filmography Title Role The Underdog (2019) Julie Static (short) (2021) Eliza Hagen You Are the Ocean (short) (2022) N The Hill (2023) Gracie Shanz
Gracie may not be a real person, but she’s inspired by Hill’s former wife, Sherran, who he ended up divorcing in 1986 after 11 years and two children. Bjornerud does an admirable job playing Rickey’s never-say-die supporter, and her charm and energy are enough to make the somewhat underwritten part shine. It may not be the most original character, but Bjornerud turns it into one of the better parts of The Hill.
Bjornerud Plays Music Under The Stage Name Siena Bjørn
Bjørn Released Her First Album In 2022
Siena Bjornerud released her debut single in 2019 and has since produced numerous singles as well as one album in 2022, End of an Era. Singing under the stage name Siena Bjørn, Bjornerud’s music is a mix of pop, alternative rock, R&B, and jazz, and many of her songs are self-reflective, exploring themes like self-discovery and acceptance. Her music has evolved over the years, with her first songs being lighter, simpler, and a little more classic pop. Her latest music, particularly since her album, has been more experimental, exploring sounds closer to do-wop and even rap.
Siena Bjornerud Is Set To Appear In The Upcoming Western, Guns Of Redemption
Bjornerud Will Also Play Roles In Two Upcoming Short Films
Bjornerud now has two paths in front of her, music and movies, and she has not made a definitive choice about what will be next for the young performer, or whether she will continue to balance both creative endeavors. She does have three upcoming acting projects, however, indicating she may be leaning more into that side of the industry. Siena Bjornerud is set to appear in two short films, UN Justify and Enliven, and she will also play Anna in the upcoming Western thriller, Guns of Redemption.